140 THE PANIC GRASSES. 



FINGER-SHAPED PASPALUM (Paspalum digitaria] is 

 also found in Virginia, and further south, growing from 

 one to two feet high; spikes slender and sparsely- 

 flowered. 



59. PANICUM. Panic Grasses. 



Spikelets panicled or racemed, sometimes spiked; 

 glumes two, the lower one short, minute, or wanting ; 

 lower flower neutral, rarely awned , upper perfect ; 

 stamens three ; stigmas usually purple. 



SLENDER CRAB GRASS (Panicum filiforme) is an 

 annual finger grass, somewhat resembling the Finger- 

 shaped Paspalum, but the upper glume equals the flower, 

 while the lower is nearly wanting, and the spikes are 

 more erect. It flourishes on sandy, dry soils, especially 

 near the coast. Flowers in August. 



SMOOTH CRAB GRASS (Panicum gldbrum) resembles 

 the last, with the spikes digitate, three to four, spread- 

 ing ; rachis flat and thin, spikelets ovoid. It is common 

 in cultivated grounds, waste places, and on sandy fields. 

 Flowers in August and September. A troublesome 

 weed. 



FINGER GRASS, COMMON CRAB GRASS (Panicum san- 

 guinale). The panic grasses are widely spread and 

 common all over the country. 



The stems of the Finger Grass are from one to two 

 feet high, erect, spreading ; leaves and sheaths hairy ; 

 spikes four to fifteen ; digitate ; upper glume half the 

 length of the flower ; lower one small. It grows on 

 waste or neglected cultivated grounds and gardens, and 

 yards, and is generally regarded as a troublesome weed. 

 Introduced. Flowers from August to October. 



DOUBLE-HEADED PANIC (Panicum anceps] is found 

 on the wet pine barrens of New Jersey to Virginia, and 



